Tuesday

Feb 25, 2014 at 12:01 AMFeb 25, 2014 at 1:00 PM

The law firm hired by the University of Missouri Board of Curators to investigate the University of Missouri's handling of former MU swimmer Sasha Menu Courey's allegation of rape has capped its billable hours at $120,000, according to its contract.

The contract, obtained via a records request, said the Dowd Bennett Law Firm has capped its billable hours, not including expenses. The firm will bill the university every month, with the first bill expected next month.

John Fougere, chief communications officer for the UM System, said in an email that funding for the independent counsel is coming from the interest in the university's cash account.

"No tuition money or state appropriations funds will be used," he said.

Any expense fees, including lodging and travel costs, likely will be attached to each monthly bill, according to the contract.

Edward Dowd, principal at Dowd Bennett, could not be reached for comment.

The firm is scheduled to report its findings during the curators' April 11 meeting in Rolla. Board of Curators Chairman Don Downing said the findings likely will be reported to the curators during a closed session. He said the report will be made public later, but some of the information might be redacted for privacy or legal reasons.

Menu Courey committed suicide in June 2011, about 16 months after she was the alleged victim of a sexual assault at the hands of one or more football players. Six campus medical professionals reportedly were aware of her 2010 rape but didn't report it to police.

After an ESPN story last month brought attention to her case, UM System President Tim Wolfe recommended the curators hire an outside independent counsel to investigate MU's response.

This article was published in the Tuesday, February 25, 2014 edition of the Columbia Daily Tribune with the headline "Contract details fees for law firm; UM curators hired counsel."

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